A Prayer to Praise God for Our Nation’s Birth
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
Listen or Read Below:
Some consider our nation’s birth a miracle. With strong faith, Miracles in American History author, historian, and speaker, William J. Federer writes, “One can gain inspiring faith from leaders of the past. The Founding Fathers sacrificed their prosperity for their posterity.” America’s Founders were leaders who accomplished what seemed impossible and unattainable, considering the military odds in facing the ruthless and brutal tactics of the British forces, modeling bravery and self-sacrifice in order to birth a new nation, a truly heroic and remarkable accomplishment.
America’s Founding Fathers Risked it All for Freedom
Federer describes how, “History is filled with accounts of people suffering coercion and persecution by godless totalitarian governments, maligned, smeared, canceled and crushed in hopeless situations against insurmountable odds, but then, stirred by the Spirit, little nobodies rise up, small in their own eyes, but big in faith and courage, to speak truth to power and to resist evil.” America’s Founding Fathers risked losing everything, including their reputations, homes, land, and even their lives, to birth a free nation. The 56 men from ages 26 to 70 years old, who signed the Declaration of Independence, consisted of men from all walks of life, including farmers, merchants, lawyers, physicians, ministers, a printer, a teacher, and a musician. They faced life-and-death situations, knowing if they were caught by the British, they would surely hang for treason. Benjamin Franklin summed up the very real threat by writing, “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.”
America’s Founding Fathers Recognized God as Our Source of Liberty
America’s founders recognized the true enemy of birthing a new nation founded on freedom was not just physical but also spiritual, officially meeting together for the first time on September 7, 1774, the Continental Congress of the United States, opening with prayer and the reading of Psalm 35 by Rev. Jacob Duche’, beginning with the sentiment and words, “Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.” This diverse group of men from a range of backgrounds, levels of success and accomplishments, set denominational differences aside, standing side-by-side to join together to pray for America’s freedom, men consisting of Congregationalists, Anglicans, Quakers, Dutch Reformed, Baptists, Lutherans, Puritans, and Presbyterians uniting together in one accord.
Federer notes how “The first vice president and second President of the United States, John Adams, in a letter to his wife, Abigail, described the prayer: ‘I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on that morning. After this, Mr. Duche’ unexpectedly to everybody, struck out in to an extemporary prayer, which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess, I never heard a better prayer, or one so well pronounced.’”
“The Great Awakening” Helped to Prepare for the Birth of America
Many historians accredit “The Great Awakening,” a spiritual revival that preceded America’s birth, as greatly influencing and strengthening Patriot leaders across the colonies leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where prayer and fasting played a critical role in helping America to establish its freedom.
Providence Forum Executive Director Dr. Jerry Newcombe describes how important spiritual concerns were to the soon-to-be first President of the United States of America. “Prayer was important to George Washington. He had a pocket-sized edition of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, which he used all the time. On numerous occasions, he thanked God for His help in our becoming an independent nation.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
We come to You today in praise for our nation’s birth, the United States of America, believing our country was established by Your hand and divine guidance through the lives of our Founding Fathers. We are grateful to Your leading and moving through America’s Founders, men who had great faith, who trusted in You to guide them in mighty ways to birth our nation’s freedom, knowing that true freedom only comes through You, and You alone, as Your word proclaims. Strengthen America’s citizens, and our nation overall, to praise You for the birth of our great country, founded on Your godly principles, the United States of America.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/4maksym
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Praying through Psalm 15: A Prayer to the One Who Will Never Be Shaken
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